asked the Minister for Justice whether his attention has been directed to a report in a morning paper of Saturday, the 15th July, headed "Dublin Pickets on Queen's Visit" in the course of which it is stated that a photographer attached to that newspaper was told by a Garda sergeant that to take a picture of the picket was against the law, and that a newspaper reporter was ordered to move on, and if he will state (a) by what authority or upon whose instructions this statement was made by the Garda sergeant in question, and (b) whether he considers it in the public interest that representatives of the Press should be so restricted in the collection of news.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Restriction on Newspaper Representatives.
asked the Minister for Justice whether his attention has been directed to a report in an evening paper of July 14th, headed, "Police Remove Dublin Protest Pickets", wherein is described the protest made by the members of the Anti-Partition Association against the visit to the Six Counties of the Queen of England, carried out by way of poster pickets on the British Consular Offices in Dublin, and in the course of which it is stated that a reporter who was standing nearby when the Gardaí were talking to the pickets, was told that he would have to move on, that when the reporter declared his identity he was told that it did not matter, and that he could see the inspector later on, and if he will state (a) whether this report is accurate, and (b) whether he has any statement to make in connection with this interference with the freedom and liberty of the Press in the person of one of its representatives.
I propose, with your permission, a Chinn Chomhairle, to answer Questions Nos. 28 and 29 together.
No instructions were issued to Gardaí to prevent Press representatives from attending or taking photographs, and any interference which may have occurred was due to a misunderstanding.
Can the Minister say if statements were taken from the Guards in question in connection with this occurrence?
May I ask if the Parliamentary Secretary has seen the photograph which appeared in the Irish Press and if he is aware that it was a posed photograph and not a real photograph, and used to damage the national interest?
What does the Deputy know about the national interest?
He knows about the damage.